P&C Real Life Party: Hot Pink Damask

When I plan a party, I usually begin months in advance with ideas and mood boards and lists and obsessing... attention to detail. So when I saw that Heather (at Party Tinkers) had only one week to plan, I was truly impressed with the beautifully detailed party she put together.

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Hot Pink and Damask Party

I was recently was asked (less than a week before the party) if I could come up with some decorations for a small get together for a girl adult birthday. Well, this is what I came up with thanks to the customizable printables I purchased from Paper and Cake!!! (Unfortunately, I forgot my nice fancy camera and had to use my little point and shoot camera I keep in my purse, so the pictures didn't come out real good). I absolutely love the pink and black damask print, don't you?!?

I purchased this adorable picture frame from Hobby Lobby for 1/2 off...can't pass a deal like that up!!! I used the "napkin rings" from the paper printables I purchased and wrapped them around these white candles for a little accent piece.

Drink table!

I used cordinating scrapbook paper from Hobby Lobby as place mats for all the food dishes.

Considering the time frame I had to work with, I think it came out not to shabby!!!

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New Party! Bouncy Balls Birthday Bash

Bounce ~ Bounce ~ Bounce! Got a Bouncing Baby Boy or Girl? Celebrate their Birthday with lots of Balls:  big ones, tiny ones, red ones, shiny ones...  You can also make your Big Kid's Bounce House Party the coolest on the block with this bright and whimsical, Printable Bouncy Ball Birthday Bash!

New in this party is a Themed Backdrop! Have you seen the beautiful tablescapes from Amy Atlas? She is well known for designing matching wall coverings for the area behind her dessert tables. Ours is made by printing out full 8.5x11" sheets of the bouncy ball pattern, and tiling them together to form a "curtain" of pattern. One of the sheets can be customized to include the birthday child's name - and the whole backdrop can be put together using tape, ribbon or pipe cleaners.

In this set:

1. Invitation (fits A7 envelope) +
2. Thank You/Envelope
3. Birthday Gift Log
4. Cupcake Picks +
5. Water Bottle Labels +
6. Favor Tags +
7. Dessert Buffet Tags +
8. Party Hats
9. Snack Boxes +
10. Penant Banner +
11. Themed Backdrop +
12. Full Pattern Sheet

Did you know that the items with a + sign have text boxes that can be easily personalized using Acrobat Reader (a free download from Adobe.com)? Each collection has detailed instructions and recommendations.

Have questions on how something is put together? 

Need more party advice? Leave a comment! 

And please... tell a friend!

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P&C Real Life Party: Back to School

Dawn of "Not Just a Mommy" fame, used our Back to School Printables to throw one final bash before jumping for joy her precious children went back to school. How did she do it you ask? Well, careful planning, tons of inspiration, and a helpful little voice inside her head. Read her full post here, or browse the Cliff's Notes version below...

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Back to School Bash 2010

It came, it went, it was awesome. Our last hurrah for the summer, our annual Back To School Bash. It's really just a glorified playdate with friends we didn't get a chance to spend alot of time with. My boys are apparently in high demand and should quit school altogether and just be socialites.

I couldn't wait to share the pix, it was so much fun to put together. I have a Favorites folder full of inspiration and I wanted to use them all, but alas there was just no room.

Must every party include paper straws? That's a big 10-4 good buddy! And what, you say, is that runner made of? Why yes, it is real chalkboard cloth. No one believed me that it was, but I found it at Jo-Ann's, it comes on a bolt just like any cloth. I've had it for awhile with big dreams of putting a ribbon edging on it and make it an 'official' runner, but eh.

And since we all know the trick to an appealing table is having different heights, I figured nothing would be more appropriate than using some of our favorites books.

And double shout-outs to Paper & Cake, I used their too-fun Back To School collection for my water bottle wraps, veggie fries containers and labels for the applesauce cups. They had so much stuff that comes with the download, but I just couldn't use it all. I was having a hard time reeling in the crazy and I had to draw the line.

I was going to make strips from their printed paper to wrap the sandwiches in, but that little voice in my head (which is getting littler by the day) said 'STOP. STEP BACK FROM THE PRINTER AND DROP THE SCISSORS, YOU ARE INSANE'. So I put it under them instead.

How could I not have Trader Joe's Schoolbook Cookies and alphabet tater-tots? The bags in the back were serving double duty as decor and favors. I wanted to have the flash card match with each guest's name, but we had 3 T names, so not everyone could. See how the crazy doesn't stop?

We asked each guest to bring a gently loved book for a book swap, which is a great way to get a new book or two without buying anything. I wanted to read Countdown To Kindergarten since several friends are starting this year, and it's the little one's fav, but alas, time flies when you're having fun!

Thanks again ladies for another great kickoff to the new school year!

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P&C Real Life Party: Sail Away 2nd Birthday

Sarah Keeth, the very pregnant author of the sometimes scholarly blog KeethInk.com, used our Sail Away set for her sons 2nd birthday party. I am beside myself with just how cute that bowl of jello is! Oh the craftiness! Oh, the super cuteness! Ahem, um anyway, here is some of what she had to say:

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Motherhood as Performance: the Two Year old Party

I threw a party for my son’s second birthday with a sailboat theme.
-I made everything myself.
-I took all the photos myself (I’m obviously not a professional photographer).
-Entire party budget was less than $200.
-I’m seven months pregnant.
-I’ve clearly lost my mind.

Almost all of the cute printables are from Paper & Cake (I made a few complementary ones myself.) Printing your own partyware is cheap and rewarding, but you do need to start well in advance.

From the Paper & Cake printable: I printed the napkin rings on sticker paper and used them to label the water bottles. Tip: take the original label off first.

Here’s the sweet birthday boy with me & DH.
I. Am. So. Pregnant.
Also, I need to get my hair done.

Please look at the cute boys and the cute table instead of me.

I used Paper & Cake’s directions to make pinwheels, but I made them out of big 12×12 scrapbook paper and attached them to dowels with a staple gun. They are in cute little buckets filled with sand. (Cute buckets found at Target’s dollar bin.) I tried putting florist foam in the buckets, but it wasn’t heavy enough and DH ran to Lowe’s for sand at the last minute. Luckily, we live two blocks from Lowe’s.

Found the best prices on the requisite paper straws on Ebay.
Really wanted the cute whirly pops, too, but they just didn’t fit in the budget.

On the far left: fishbowl jello and some dolphin-shaped pb&j’s. I found the sandwich cutter at Buy Buy Baby for $2.99. I used the Paper & Cake boat placecards as food labels (note the boat “floating” on top of the jello).

 Sandy cinnamon muffins, AKA Pioneer Woman’s French Breakfast Puffs. Thankfully, there were some of these left over for breakfast the next morning.

Did I mention I made all the food? I think that was a crazy choice. But it tasted good.

I didn’t make the chips, or the goldfish. Just bought those. These are the Paper & Cake printable snack boxes.

I made the cake, too. Covered with marshmallow fondant. A tip I might use for next year: You can go to your local grocery store bakery and order a plain frosted cake in the shape of your choice. Then you can decorate it, which is the fun part, without messing with all the layers and so forth.

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More tips and tricks are available on her original post, found here. Thanks so much Sarah!

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New Party! Sweet Argyle is Here

This candy-colored collection in argyle with hints of dark chocolate brown is just right for creating the best dessert bar on the block! It comes with everything you could dream of to host a Sweets Shop Birthday, a Bright Baby Shower, a Delectable Doughnut Brunch, or an Enchanting Engagement Party.

Included in this Printable Party kit are:

Invitation (fits A6 envelope) +

Thank You Note with Envelope

Cupcake Picks +

Cupcake Wrappers +

Snack Boxes +

Banner +

Napkin Rings / Vase Wraps / Candle Wraps

Oval Jar Labels +

Gift List

Pinwheel craft

Door Banner +

Gift Tags

Candy Cones

Favor Boxes

Milk Carton or Juice Box Band +

Full Pattern Sheets

+ Customizable item: Those items with a + sign can be easily personalized using Acrobat Reader, a free download from Adobe.com. Each collection has detailed instructions and recommendations.

Stop by our printable party shop - we would love to see you!

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